Treasure Bass

she thought she could hide, her possessions in a fish'sstomachthe first time she sawdaddy cut up a fishfor dinner, she sawthat stomach andshe had ideas, great plans forher treasures.

shewould sneak a fishfrom the aluminum ice tub, stuffher secrets inside, andwaitwait for the fish to dry outand who would know, whocould everguess thisit was a feat of her mind, defeatof all other minds.

yesin love, she swiped that fishlike a practiced thief, quietlyshe broughtit into the private momentsknife in pale hands would slitthe striped bassunderside, slime wouldslide onto the newspaper printit would havehappened, but she didn't.

that fish, damned to ice buckets, anda childwho did not know the art of, at least,giving the honor of properlacerationshis eyes, immobile colored raindrops, theystared hard at herown peering windows, andshe could not insult a , this, bass, even tohidethe secrets of her being, those thatsustained her own life.